ArmInfo. In 2019, Armenia reduced wheat imports by 23.2% to 250.3 thousand tons, demonstrating a decline in value terms by 19.7% to $ 50.5 million. The Russian Federation (88.6%) acted as the main importer of wheat. Ukraine (6.9%), Georgia (4.5%).
Exports of wheat increased by 50% to 15.3 tons, while the customs value doubled to $ 10.7 thousand. Wheat exports from Armenia fell to the USA (62%), France (35%) and Belgium (3%).
According to customs data, the import of wheat flour into Armenia decreased by 53.6% to 22.5 thousand tons. In value terms, imported wheat flour showed a decline of 0.2% to $ 6.3 million. The Russian Federation (99.2%) was the main importer of wheat flour to Armenia, while the remaining volume was distributed between Kazakhstan, Italy, Poland, France, Belarus, the United Kingdom , Germany and India. At the same time, the entire volume of exported wheat flour amounting to 10 tons fell to the United States.
A positive trend is observed only along the grain line. In particular, Armenia increased its grain imports by 4.7% to 5.2 thousand tons, while the customs value increased by 7.5% to $ 2.3 million. The lion's share of grain imports was in the Russian Federation (90.4%), and the rest to Brazil (5%), Argentina (2.3%), Hungary (1%). Grain was also imported to Armenia from Turkey, France, the USA, Germany and India. Grain was exported from Armenia in total 36.2 tons, with an annual decline of 72.8%. In value terms, exports decreased by 54.6% to $ 31.2 thousand. The main grain export markets were the USA (46.1%), the Russian Federation (42.5%) and Canada (11%).
According to the RA Statcommittee, the production of flour in Armenia in 2019 increased by 31.2% to 176.7 thousand tons.
It should be noted that, according to previously available data, the dominant position in the wheat and flour market is occupied by the company "Alex Grig" (owned by the family of the Armenian oligarch, MP Samvel Aleksanyan), which accounts for over 42% of the market, the company is also a major player " Manana Grain "- over 36%. Thus, "Alex Grig" and "Manana Grain" provide about 80% of the domestic market of Armenia. Manana Grain LLC is also one of the largest importers of grain to Armenia (over 34% of the market).
